Athenry

On June 23, 2017, a judge was expected to make a final ruling on Apple’s plans to build a data center in Athenry, Ireland. Instead, the Irish Courts Service cited a “shortage of High Court Judges, practitioners and parties,” and pushed the court date back to July 30, when presumably someone will be available to preside. If the June 23 ruling had happened, it would’ve been the official verdict in a tug-of-war between Apple and Irish citizens that started two years ago.

Apple first proposed the Athenry data center back in February 2015, but a series of obstacles have halted the project. Essentially, the building plans are gridlocked by a small band of Irish locals. This standoff is resulting in a true battle of wills, where neither side plans on budging. However, with such mounting tensions, many outsiders wonder why Apple hasn’t already taken its business elsewhere. Keep reading to discover why the powerful company’s plans are being foiled. Read More